Page 164 of Treason's Temptation
“Maybe he’s a good guy. His mom seems nice too, and she likes you, unless she was faking it.”
“When I met her I was hoping, but the panic attack I almost had in his bathroom says otherwise.” Rayven’s shoulders curled off the bed, she was laughing so hard. “You think that’s funny, huh?”
“I would’ve paid top dollar to see you with his family. I know you were freaking out.”
“Losing my shit, but he was patient with me. He’s always so patient and understanding. It feels weird.”
“It’s weird because Sloane is crazy. Not because Tre isn’t who he claims to be. I think you’d be a great mom.Ifthat’s what you want.”
“I needed this.”
“Me too,” Rayven and I lay in silence, soaking up each other’s affection. I had almost drifted off to sleep until her raspy cadence woke me, “I hope Tre stays that way. You deserve to have someone take care of you.”
Rayven lay back down, pulling my arm around her. The plush mattress was so comfortable that we both fell asleep until I wokeup to use the bathroom. Sliding out of bed, I carefully shut the door, anticipating Treason still at his desk, only to find the office empty. Padding to his bedroom, he was asleep in his signature position- one arm flung over the pillow.
After I emptied my bladder, I slid under the comforter, praying I could fall asleep. Treason likely heard my racing thoughts, swinging his arm over my side, pulling me into him.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
“Sorry. We fell asleep.”
He kissed the back of my neck, snuggling closer as his fingers traced my stomach.
“Keep the baby,” came out in a low whisper. I almost thought I was dreaming, until “Please, Blue,” followed, deeper and more intentional.
“Why?” I asked, curious.
“I want to give you what you never had.”
“That’s the thing, Tre, you can’t do this for me. It has to be for you.”
“You make our house a home. You keep me going when this shit feels too heavy. I get my ass up when I’m tired to be the man you see in me. Everything is because of you, Blue, with or without a baby.”
“I think I know why you were hesitant,” I said, rolling on my side now face-to-face.
Treason smirked, brushing his finger over my nose before kissing it. “Oh yeah? Why was I hesitant?”
“Winston came to see me.” His eyes grew darker than the room we were lying in. “He told me everything, but why didn’t you?”
“Ain’t shit to tell Blue. The only thing we’ll ever have in common is DNA.”
“Is he why you don’t want kids?”
“As much as I hate it, I am his son. If I want something, I’ll do whatever it takes to get it. It’s fucked up but honest, so I decided to do what he should’ve and not have kids.”
“You’re not him, Tre.”
Treason smirked. “I kidnapped mysisterto get you back. I’m damn close, Blue.”
“So what’s different now, Treason? I know you’re not giving up politics.”
“I wanted something real. Something that made all this shit worth it. It doesn’t get realer than you carrying my child. Maybe I don’t deserve this blessing, but this baby is a chance to start fresh and do shit the right way. I love you past all the shit I’m afraid of. No doubt I can love our child past them, too.”
“I don’t know. This is a big decision, Tre.”
“I’m not him, and you’re not Sloane. Have my baby, Blue,” he begged.
Everything I ever wanted was on the other side of Treason’s request. If I survived the family I didn’t get to pick, I was willing to chance building one with the only family I’d ever get to choose for myself. Sometimes you have to go for it, no matter how messy or scary, otherwise you’d waste a perfect life.
